The fifth studio album (first in 9 years!) from the mighty ambient-metal project known as EARTH. Helmed by renowned guitarist DYLAN CARSON, "Hex..." is an album that is (yes) dark and slow, but quite a different dark and slow from something like "PHASE 3." The silver lining here is a southern feel, but that of Cormac McCarthy books as opposed to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some may be reminded of NEIL YOUNG's "Dead Man" soundtrack, with the sound of bells and horsies carrying on from song to song. The end result is something that's could be considered a new kind of doom and gloom...unnerving and scary, EARTH has found a new home at SOUTHERN LORD. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Ex-Game Theory

Super rare debut album from Swedish heavy metal group Hexenhaus! You know it has to be killer when Mike Wead, of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate fame, is playing lead guitar, SO WHY ARE YOU STILL EVEN READING THIS?!?!?!

Hard to believe it's been five years since we last heard from Richard D. James, but "Blackbox Life..." picks up right where "Collapse" left off, with dry, bouncing analog-ish drum textures and playful pacing counter-balancing dark, ruminative synth tones. There are also nods to his early days, with ravey stabs and burbling acid basslines. Classic and yet also entirely new stuff from RDJ. OBVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED!

The post-hiatus era of APHEX TWIN certainly has been exciting for us fans. "Syro" seems to be where Richard D. James dumped his biggest & most grandiose ideas & all of the releases since have been smaller, almost like compartmentalized experiments. "Cheetah" (which is named after a semi-obscure synth of the same name) is a more subdued & mellow record. The songs are slower & the beats are simpler but it's not less engaging. More genius from R.D.J.!

In 2014, Richard D. James surprised us all by announcing the release of "Syro", his first album in about 13 years. The floodgates do now seem to be open & just a few months later we have the "Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments PT2"EP. The title really couldn't be more descriptive of the music on this EP. These tracks mostly seem like exercises with samples of real instruments & aside from the first track & few others, there aren't many proper songs. Is it just pallet cleansing for something new or has he finally decided to release everything from the vaults? We're not sure but a new APHEX TWIN record is cool with us.

Debut album from EX HEX (which features MARY TIMONY, so that means this band has the same name as her 2005 solo LP "Ex Hex") is a beyond-catchy power-pop gem for fans of CHEAP TRICK, THE RUNAWAYS, NEW YORK DOLLS, etc.

Fans of the Melvins take note!!

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